{"id":124309,"date":"2026-07-01T13:01:37","date_gmt":"2026-07-01T13:01:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/basketball.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/07\/01\/predicting-lebron-james-next-move-after-split-from-lakers-nba-free-agency-winners-losers-after-day-1\/"},"modified":"2026-07-01T13:01:37","modified_gmt":"2026-07-01T13:01:37","slug":"predicting-lebron-james-next-move-after-split-from-lakers-nba-free-agency-winners-losers-after-day-1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/basketball.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/07\/01\/predicting-lebron-james-next-move-after-split-from-lakers-nba-free-agency-winners-losers-after-day-1\/","title":{"rendered":"Predicting LeBron James’ next move after split from Lakers; NBA free agency winners, losers after Day 1"},"content":{"rendered":"

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This is an article version of the CBS Sports HQ AM Newsletter, the ultimate guide to every day in sports. <\/em>You can sign up to get it in your inbox every weekday morning here<\/em><\/a>.<\/em> <\/p>\n\n

\ud83c\udfc0 Five things to know Wednesday <\/h2>\n
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  1. The LeBron James era is over for the Lakers.<\/strong><\/strong> There will be no Year 9 for King James in a Lakers jersey. The biggest domino of NBA free agency thus far<\/a><\/span> fell yesterday when James hit the open market and informed the team he intends to sign elsewhere<\/a><\/span>. The dust is still settling on his Los Angeles legacy, but it is not too early to ponder which franchise will be fortunate enough to land his talents. The Warriors have been linked to him over the last few days and are the clear favorites<\/a><\/span> to bring him aboard, but these other teams would also be logical landing spots<\/a><\/span>. Not all of our NBA writers are convinced Golden State presents the most entertaining situation<\/a><\/span>, but it is hard not to salivate over the idea of James, Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and Kristaps Porzi\u0146\u0123is all teaming up in the Bay Area<\/a><\/span>. Meanwhile, the Lakers are left to rebuild their identity, and their top priority is already clear<\/a><\/span>. And we’ve got your free agency winners and losers<\/a><\/span>.<\/li>\n
  2. Kawhi Leonard will return to the Raptors via trade.<\/strong><\/strong> The NBA offseason is not just about free agent signings. An absolute blockbuster transaction between the Clippers and Raptors will send Leonard back up north seven years after he departed from Toronto. In capitalizing on Leonard’s value and securing Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick and a host of draft picks (including unprotected first-rounders in 2031 and 2033) in return, this is a home-run move for Los Angeles. Our trade grades reflect how the Clippers came out way ahead<\/a><\/span> by parting with the seven-time All-Star, who never quite lived up to expectations<\/a><\/span> across his seven years with the team.<\/li>\n
  3. Serena Williams and Ben Shelton are out at Wimbledon.<\/strong><\/strong> It was a short stay in the tournament for two huge American names. Neither Williams nor Shelton made it out of the opening round due to their losses Tuesday<\/a><\/span>. Williams still has at least one doubles match ahead of her, but her run in the singles field is done<\/a><\/span> just one match into her comeback. She fell to 20-year-old Maya Joint in three sets in her first singles match in four years. Shelton, the highest-seeded American man at Wimbledon, fell in five sets to Otto Virtanen<\/a><\/span> despite entering play as a perceived threat to at least return to the quarterfinals. Those remaining in the bracket embark on second-round play today<\/a><\/span>.<\/li>\n
  4. Kylian Mbapp\u00e9 kept France rolling to highlight Tuesday’s World Cup action.<\/strong><\/strong> Three more teams are through to the Round of 16: Norway, France, and Mexico. Mbapp\u00e9, again, shined as bright as any star<\/a><\/span> who was in action across the trio of matches with yet another brace (his third of the tournament) in Les Bleus’ 3-0 rout of Sweden<\/a><\/span>. His fifth and six goals of the World Cup tied him with Lionel Messi at the front of the Golden Boot race and placed him one goal behind Messi’s pace on the all-time tournament leaderboard. And in yesterday’s nightcap, Mexico became the second host country to send its national team to the Round of 16<\/a><\/span> with a 2-0 win over Ecuador. Is the United States next? The USMNT returns to action tonight against Bosnia and Herzegovina.<\/li>\n
  5. NHL free agency gets underway today.<\/strong><\/strong> The NBA isn’t the only league that gets to have some free agency fun. While the 2026 class does not hold a candle to others in recent years, there are still a few big names that could be on the move. We ranked the top 30 free agents<\/a><\/span>, including a couple of Stanley Cup champion goaltenders, ahead of what promises to be an active stanza of the offseason.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    \ud83c\udfc6 Do not miss this: Who had the best year in college sports? <\/h2>\n

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    There are football schools, there are basketball schools and — in only a few instances — so-called “everything schools.” In modern college athletics, the strongest brands and wealthiest athletic departments are often the ones that dominate across sports. That was very apparent during the 2025-26 academic year, which has officially come to an end. <\/p>\n

    We created a formula to determine which Power Four schools enjoyed the most success in the six biggest sports<\/a><\/span> and found that one athletic department stood head and shoulders above the rest. Congratulations to Texas<\/strong> on putting together the best year in major college sports! Our Cody Nagel explained what set the Longhorns apart. <\/p>\n